Pelicans' new practice center taking shape

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

FS Southwest

METAIRIE, La. (AP) -- Monty Williams says he's impressed by the pace of construction on the New Orleans Pelicans' training center, and expects it to help the club not just because of its amenities, but also because of where it is.

The $16 million, 50,000-square-foot project, which Williams toured along with team owner Tom Benson and other officials Wednesday afternoon, is on the same campus as the headquarters of the NFL's
New Orleans Saints, also owned by Benson. The new practice courts are scheduled to be completed by August.

Williams says something else that makes the practice center special is that his players and assistants will cross paths with competitors like Saints coach Sean Payton and quarterback
Drew Brees, and share ideas about elite competition in any sport.